Up your photography game with beautiful and cheap DIY photo backdrops! They are seriously so simple to make and with the wide variety of patterns available you can get exactly the look you want.
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Pros and Cons of Contact Paper vs. Removable Wall Paper
Printable DIY Photo Backdrops Tutorial
Obviously, I take a ton of photos. It’s the nature of the business. Early on, I found this beautiful piece of woodgrain poster board at Michael’s that I fell in love with.
Unfortunately, after 4 years of use and lots of tape, it was on it’s last legs. Hint, see any photos with a small yellow discoloration on the wood background? That’s my poor old poster board.
I needed something more durable than poster board but still beautiful in photos. That’s why I created these DIY photo backdrops.
A few foam boards from the Dollar Tree and some removable wall paper and boom! Now I have awesome backdrops that don’t get totally ruined if they get wet, that can be cleaned, and that are totally easy to store.
In addition, they’re super light-weight and about a thousand times cheaper than the photo boards you can buy.
If you’re sitting there like, “I’m not a blogger,” I hear you. But these can be used for more than blogging. Showcase your Etsy products, up your Instagram game (is that still a thing?), or start a side hustle taking photos of products and recipes for other people.
The point is, if you need an awesome photo backdrop on a budget, this is the tutorial for you.
DIY Photo Backdrops Materials
Foam Board
Contact Paper or Removable Wall Paper (I used this wood and here is a similar terrazzo)
Scissors
Smoothing Tool (Optional)
Step 1 – Cut Your Paper
First, you need to measure your paper and cut it to the size you need. If your paper is shorter than the width of your foam board, be sure to cut 2 pieces. You should need more than 2 for a standard size foam board.
You want to make sure that you cut your piece or pieces long enough to overlap on every side of the foam board.
Step 2 – Attach Sheet to Your Foam Board
Next, line up your contact paper where you want it to go on the foam board. Again, make sure that it overlaps on each side (or 3 of the sides if you are using 2 pieces).
Then pull back the non-stick paper from one of the shorter edges and carefully adhere it to your foam board.
Continue pulling back the paper and smoothing the contact paper with your hand or with the smoothing tool onto the foam board until the entire piece is attached save for the overlapped edges.
Make sure that there are no bubbles and then do the same for the second piece, matching up the patterns, if needed.
Step 3 – Fold Over the Excess
After the top of your foam board is covered, flip it over and fold the excess over to the back. Think of it like wrapping a present.
Fold opposite sides down onto the back. Then fold the corners down on the 2 opposite, unfolded edges before folding those down onto the back of the foam board as well.
Tips and Tricks
This project is easiest if your roll is the same width as your foam board or larger because then you don’t have to worry about matching patterns. The rolls of contact paper at the Dollar Tree are not as wide but they are cheaper so that’s the trade off you should decide if you’re willing to make.
Also, keep the matching in mind when picking out your patterns. Geometric and wood patterns are the easiest to line up whereas intricate florals and abstract patterns are not.
I recommend making these on a large flat surface. If your craft table/desk isn’t big enough to hold the entire piece of foam board at multiple angles then it will be hard to smooth the contact paper down efficiently.
Pros and Cons of Contact Paper vs. Removable Wall Paper
Contact Paper
This is the cheapest option and the easiest to find. You can visit your local Dollar Tree and score a roll for a buck. That’s the major pro.
A con is that most contact papers are going to have a shine to them that you might not want in your photos. Additionally, contact paper doesn’t come in the variety of patterns and colors that removable wall paper does. Some brands are not as durable, also.
Removable Wall Paper
Removable wall paper is a fantastic option to really get unique and realistic patterns. One of my favorite things about it is that it is more realistic looking than contact paper. For example, the wood photo backdrop I made. It has a matte finish and looks gorgeous.
The con is that it is more expensive than contact paper. Luckily, you can find some great deals on Amazon. I got the wood paper I used for around $10 and the roll is enough to make a great deal more than one backdrop.
Both
The pro about both of these is that you can wipe them down with a damp cloth. The removable wall paper, especially, is made to hold up to minor incidents and cleaning. That’s great when you want to photograph food, drinks, or anything that might leave it’s mark so to speak.
Printable DIY Photo Backdrops Tutorial
Cheap DIY Photo Backdrops
Up your photography game with beautiful and cheap DIY photo backdrops! They are seriously so simple to make and with the wide variety of patterns available you can get exactly the look you want.
Materials
- Foam Board
- Contact Paper or Removable Wall Paper
- Scissors
- Smoothing Tool (Optional)
Instructions
- First, you need to measure your paper and cut it to the size you need. If your paper is shorter than the width of your foam board, be sure to cut 2 pieces. You should need more than 2 for a standard size foam board.
- You want to make sure that you cut your piece or pieces long enough to overlap on every side of the foam board.
- Next, line up your contact paper where you want it to go on the foam board. Again, make sure that it overlaps on each side (or 3 of the sides if you are using 2 pieces).
- Then pull back the non-stick paper from one of the shorter edges and carefully adhere it to your foam board.
- Continue pulling back the paper and smoothing the contact paper onto the foam board until the entire piece is attached save for the overlapped edges.
- Make sure that there are no bubbles and then do the same for the second piece, matching up the patterns, if needed.
- After the top of your foam board is covered, flip it over and fold the excess over to the back. Think of it like wrapping a present.
- Fold opposite sides down onto the back. Then fold the corners down on the 2 opposite, unfolded edges before folding those down onto the back of the foam board as well.
Notes
- This project is easiest if your roll is the same width as your foam board or larger because then you don’t have to worry about matching patterns. The rolls of contact paper at the Dollar Tree are not as wide but they are cheaper so that’s the trade off you should decide if you’re willing to make.
- Also, keep the matching in mind when picking out your patterns. Geometric and wood patterns are the easiest to line up whereas intricate florals and abstract patterns are not.
- I recommend making these on a large flat surface. If your craft table/desk isn’t big enough to hold the entire piece of foam board at multiple angles then it will be hard to smooth the contact paper down efficiently.
These DIY photo backdrops are so easy to make. I can’t wait to run out and get more foam board to make more. The great thing about these is that you can make them for so many uses.
Create one to serve as a first and last day of school photo backdrop for the kiddos. Make one for your next party or celebration. Once you see all of the patterns and designs available, you’ll see all of the possibilities for yourself.
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